33rd Annual Christmas on the Hill

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – 33-years-ago, Bishop Rosecrans Head Basketball Coach Todd Rock involved his team in helping a handful of struggling neighbors by distributing Christmas gifts to their children. 

Today that program serves more than 150 children, which teaches the students that there are needs bigger than their own and shows them how significant the simple gesture of giving can make to others. Christmas on the Hill is a year-round effort that takes months of planning, preparing and fundraising.

“We do a lot of fundraising things throughout the year, sell pizza, different things throughout the summer and it all just comes together around Christmas time. We come out, buy the gifts and just make it happen for the kids. And then the day before Christmas come in here, get breakfast for them and let them open the presents with Santa. So it’s really special,” Bishop Rosecrans Basketball Senior Owen Lambert said.

Christmas on the Hill has not only brightened the smiles of generations of children but has touched the hearts of generations of student athletes, who return annually to see the difference they make. 

“I’ve been coming to this program since 2000. I think I’ve missed one year in the last 25 years. It’s one of the greatest programs out there. I bring my son now to this just to show the importance of the community, getting involved and helping out really when we can. It’s just a really special program. Love coming back here to this every year. Love seeing new players, old players when they come up. And just hopefully, this tradition continues on and on,” Bishop Rosecrans 2004 Graduate Adam Agin said.

Many high school athletic programs volunteer in a variety of community outreach projects that teach youth the significance of giving back to their community.